Contacting device



. 29, 1935. M. L. JEFFREY ET AL CONTACTING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 65 67 75 369 lZz/J gwuentots /%x Z. JEFFeEX filiapmEE Mia/e4 0 v Fans/ewe 0 SI/Vawe/V e.

Oct. 29, 1935. M. L. JEFIFIQREY in AL CONTACTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill gwuemto os MAX A. JEFF/ea. 7715000/25 4 f/CK/IOFF. Ffeoiexcz. 0. JAVA anew. fe.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTACTING DEVICE Application November 2, 1931. Serial No. 572,588

7 Claims.

The time unit comprising the present invention is primarily adapted for use in connection with recording apparatus although the principles of the invention are applicable to use in connection 5 with any manner of circuit making and breaking mechanism where in a predetermined lapse of time is to exist between the making and the breaking of the circuit or vice versa or between cycles of operation wherein the circuit is made J and broken or vice versa.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a time controlled circuit making and breaking mechanism in which a quick make and a. quick break may be effected regardless of 3 whether the duration of time between the making of the circuit and the breaking of the circuit or vice versa be a long period or a minutely small one. In other words the invention contemplates the provision of a mechanism which may be uti- E) lized to effectively and instantaneously open a circuit and thereafter, almost immediately, close the circuit instantaneously, or, which may accomplish the reverse by first instantaneously closing a normally open circuit and thereafter almost 5 immediately reopening the same.

Yet another object 01' the invention is to provide a compound circuit making and breaking mechanism wherein there are provided a pair of interrelated circuits and wherein means is provided for periodically making and breaking one circuit to accomplish a desired result and wherein means is provided for periodically making and breaking the other circuit once, upon making and breaking of the first circuit a predetermined numher of times. A correlated object of the invention is to provide a circuit making and breaking device, which, by a simple manual adjustment will permit a circuit to be closed and subsequently opened upon closing and subsequently i0 opening another circuit a predetermined number of times, the closing of the second circuit occurring simultaneously with the closing of the first circuit after completion of a predetermined number of cycles of closing and opening of the first circuit during which time the second circuit has remained opened. In other words an apparatus has been devised in which one circuit is caused to be closed and thereafter opened periodically in cycles while another circuit is caused to be 50 closed and thereafter opened simultaneously with the closing of the first circuit after a recurring number of cycles of closing and opening of the first circuit has taken place.

An additional object of the invention is to pro- 65 vide a circuit making and breaking device in which rotary cam elements are instrumental in efiecting the making and breaking of a plurality of circuits, these rotary cam elements being suitably driven by a synchronous motor and being suitably connected together by a gear reduction 5 train to efiect proper timing of the respective circuit making and breaking elements.

The provision of a circuit making and breaking mechanism which is not expensive to manufacture and which accomplishes the above mentioned objects by utilizing a minimum number of movable parts and which consequently is unlikely to get out of order, and the provision of a circuit making and breaking mechanism which is rugged in its construction and eflicient in its operation are further desirable features of the invention.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time more particularly pointed out, will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembled circuit making and breaking device comprising the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the assembled device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a rotary cam element employed in connection with the present invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a pair of electrical circuits so interrelated as to accomplish the objects attained by the present invention.

Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are respective diagrammatic views of a pair of disk elements employed in connection with the present invention showing the same so adjusted that diflerent intervals of time may elapse before reoccurrence of the cycles of operation of a contact making and 5 breaking device employed in connection with the present invention.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatical view representing a pair of cam wheels employed in connection with the present invention.

In all of the above described views like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout.

The device involves in its general organization a plate or body Ill having a plurality of bosses I2 55 integrally formed therewith and extending forwardly of the same. These bosses l2 are provided with threaded sockets 14 adapted to threadedly receive therein securing screws II which screws are adapted to secure a plate II in spaced relation from the body l6. Extending through the plate or body Ill and rotatably journalled therein is a shaft which shaft carries a gear 22 thereon meshing with a gear 24 on the motor shaft 26 of a synchronous motor 25. This motor is secured in any suitable manner as for example by means of securing screws 60 which extend through sleeves 22 associated with the motor and which are threadedly received in bosses (not shown) formed on the rear side of the body Ill. The plate I! is provided with a cutaway portion 44 through which cut-away portion there projects a cam wheel 36 secured to the shaft 20. This cam wheel is best shown in Figure 5 and is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed cam surfaces 38 and 40 which terminate in abrupt drop portions 42 and 44 respectively.-

A plate 46 formed of dielectric material is adjustably secured in spaced relation from the body it and between this body and the plate I6 by means of screws 46' which screws extend into bosses 50 integrally formed on the forward side of the body ll. Secured to the plate 46 is a block 52 also formed of dielectric material and a plate 64' is secured to the forward side of the block 52.

This latter plate is formed of dielectric material and is provided with a slot 56 formed centrally of the same in its lower edge thereof. The plate 46 has secured thereto a bracket 61 on opposite sides of the same. These brackets are provided with elongated slots 59 through which slots the securing screws 46 extend. By loosening the securing screws 48 the plate together with the brackets 51 carried thereby may be adjusted vertically for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 6 a U-shaped contact member 56 has its base portion 66 secured to the block 52 by means of screws 62. One element 64 of a pair of contacts is formed on the short arm 66 of the contact member 56 while a longer arm 66 of the contact member 58 is provided with another contact element It forming a part of another pair of contacts. Secured to the sides of the block 52 are a pair of contact arms 12 and 14 the contact arm 12 carrying a contact element 16 adapted to engage the contact element .64. The arm 14 carries a contact element 16 adapted to engage the contact element 16. The upper ends of the arms 12 and 14 extend inwardly providing cam e P rtions 60 and 82 respectively. These cam engaging portions 60 and 82 are adapted to ride on the cam surfaces 26 and 40 as the cam wheel 26 rotates.

As clearly shown in Figure 6, the pairs of contacts 16, I8 and 64, 16 are arranged electrically in series. The contact arm 14 is connected to a source of electricity and when both the pairs of contacts [0, l6 and 64, 16 are closed upon each other current will flow through the arm 14, contacts l6, 16, contact member 56, contact elements 64, i6, and contact arm 12 to any suitable electrical apparatus to be momentarily operated. As

shown in Figure 6 a solenoid "S" is adapted to.

be operated upon closing of the contacts II, 16 and 64, I5.

AsshowninFigure4thecamsurfaces38 and 46 are provided with elevated portions 64 which gradually merge into depressions 66. During the normal rotation of the wheel 26 the elevated portion 64 of the cam surfaces 26 and 46 will force the upper end of the arm 68 outwardly to cause the contact elements 10 and 16 to become engaged. The arm 12, when on the elevated portion 64 will be forced outwardly thereby maintaining the contact element 64, 16 open so that no currmt will flow through the circuit. Immediately on the passing of the point 42 the arm I2, due to its inherent resiliency will drop inwardly onto the depression 66 and the contact element 64, 16 will it! become closed momentarily to permit a current to flow through the solenoid 8" and actuate the same. Immediately after the passing of the drops 42 by the arm I2, the drop 44 will pass the cam engaging portion 82 of the arm 64 and the i5 arm 68 will drop inwardly onto the depression 66 thus opening the contact elements I6, 16 to break the circuit. The synchronous motor 26 is so designed as to complete one revolution per minute and thus the arrangement of parts shown in Figea ure 4 is such that the circuit will be made and broken every minute. While this arrangement of parts has specifically been shown as accommodating a one minute interval or cycle it is to be distinctly understood that the synchronous motor '25 may be designed to accommodate a different inw terval or cycle or a gear reduction train may be employed to vary the cycle. This is evidenced by the gears 24, 22 which are reduction gears. It is to be distinctly understood, however, that if de- :0 sired the cam wheels 36 may be revolved at a different rate of speed simply by altering the gear reduction train.

After the cam engaging element 6|! has been passed by the drop 42 on the wheel 26 this cam engaging portion will ride outwardly onto the elevated portion 64 of thecam surfaces thus ultimately opening the contact 64, 16 for the commencement of the next cycle. Similarly after the cam engaging portion 62 has been 9 passed by the drop 44 of the wheel 26 this portion 62 will ride outwardly toward the other elevated portion 64 to ultimately close the contact Ill, 16 before the next cycle.

Means is provided for adjusting the interval of 5 time during which the contact elements Ill, I6 and the contact elements 64, 66 remain closed. By loosening the screws 46, in the manner previously described and elevating the plate 46 together with the plate 54 and block 52 which move in unison and which carry the contact members 14, 66, 66 and 12 the interval of time during which the circuit remains closed will be lessened. In other words when the cam engaging portions 62 and 60 of the arms 66 and 12 are moved upwardly from the position shown in Figure 4 the. cam engaging portion will be permitted to droptoward the depressed portion 86 somewhat earlier in the cycle than the instant at which it would drop were these cam engaging portions moved my toward the diametrical line joining the drops 44 and 42. Likewise the cam ens sins p rtion 62 when given this advanced position will drop toward the depressed portion 66 at an instant which occurs somewhat later in the cycle than a;

the instant at which it would drop were this cam engaging portion lowered as shown in Figure 4. Consequently, the contacting of the contact element 64, 16 will occur earlier and the parting of the contact elements l0, 16 will occur later, there- 70 by lessening the duration of flow of current through the circuit an amount commensurate with the elevation of the plates 46, 54 and the block 52 together with the contact elements carried thereby.

Secured to the shaft 20 and rotatable therewith is a gear 90 which gear meshes with a large gear 92 carried on a stub shaft 94 Joumalled in the body Ill. Integrally formed with the gear 92 is a small gear 95 which latter gear meshes with a large gear 98 carried by a drum I00. This drum I is secured on a sleeve 3i which sleeve in turn is rotatably mounted or journalled in the body ID. The drum I90 is secured against rotation on.the sleeve 3| by means of a set screw 33 extending through the same. Thus it will be seen that the large gear 95, drum Hill and sleeve 3| are adapted to rotate in unison, at a predetermined rate of speed dependent upon the speed of rotation of the cam wheel 35. In the present instance the drum I00 is adapted to rotate once every 30 minutes as may be evidenced by the reduction gears 90, 92, 95 and 98.

Extending through the sleeve 3| is a shaft 35 one end of which is journalled in a bracket 31' secured to the body Ill. The other end of the shalt 35 has secured thereto a plate 39 having an operating lever 55 integrally formed therewith. The drum I00 is provided with a radial flange 4| having raised peripheral arcuate portion 53 outwardly disposed on the same. The plate 39 is disposed between these arcuate portions 43 and the opposite ends of the arcuate portions 53 limit the pivotal movement of the plate 39 on the flange 4| by virtue of the operating lever 55.

The sleeve 3| is provided with a hub I carrying a disk 49 thereon which disk is formed of dielectric material and is provided with a plurality of notches cut in the periphery of the same. The shaft 35 carries a hub 5| thereon which hub is secured against rotation with respect to the shaft 35 by means of a set screw 53. This hub carries a disk 55 formed of dielectric material, and similar to the disk 49. The disk 55 is also provided with a plurality of notches in its periphery which notches may selectively register with the notches in the disk 49 for a purpose to be more fully described hereafter.

Referring now to Figure 3 the body or plate ID has secured thereto a plate 5i which plate is secured in position by means of screws 53 or the like.- Secured to the plate 6| in any suitable manner or formed integrally therewith is a contact carrying block 53' which block has secured to opposite sides thereof a pair of contact arms 55 and 51. The contact arm 55 carries at its outer end a contact arm 51 reversed upon itself as at H and carries a contact element 13 adapted to engage the contact element 59. Inward movement of the outer end of the contact arm 55 toward the contact arm 51 will serve to part the contact elements 59 and I5. Carried by the contact arm 55 is a cam engaging lug I5 which lug is adapted to ride upon the peripheries of the disk: 59 and 55. This cam engaging lug is adapted to enter such notches on the disks 59 and 55 as will register to permit the contact element 59, I5 to become engaged. Certain of the peripheral notches on the disks 9 and 55 may be caused to register to vary the interval of cycle at which the contact elements 59 and 15 become engaged or are parted by adjusting operating lever 55, the time interval being visibly indexed or indicated by the calibration numerals on the dial around the disk 39.

Referring now to Figure 6 it will be seen that the contact arm 55 referred to is electrically connected to the contact arm 12 or to a point in the circuit between this contact arm and the electromagnet S. The contact arm 51 is electrically and operatively connected to an electromagnet 8' which magnet may be employed for operating any suitable mechanism as for example-a printing and indexing device, l9.

What we claim is: t

1. In a time unit, a pair of axially aligned disks one disk having a plurality of cam portions thereon, the other disk'havin'g a plurality of cam portions thereon variously arranged to be associated with the cam portions of the first disk so as to go form sets of cam portions in various numbersv and sequences, a pair of contact strips having contacts associated therewith, one of said strips having a disk engaging portion bearing against the cam portions of said disks to enter such drop 15 portions on the disks as are aligned and means for turning one disk relative to the other disk.

2. In a time unit a pair of axially aligned disks, one of said disks having a plurality of notches in the periphery thereof arranged substantially 60 apart, the other of said disks having a plurality of notches in its periphery, adjacent notches on said last mentioned disk being arranged around the periphery thereof in order at angles of 24,- 36", 12, 48, 60, 12, 12, 12, 24, 60, 12, and2 5 48, and a pair of contacts, one of said contacts having a portion thereof adapted to bear against the peripheries of both of said disks to enter aligned notches therein.

3. A switch unit, a pair of contact strips having contact elements thereon and being normally closed, a second pair of contact strips having contact elements thereon and being normally open, a rotatable cam disposed between said pairs and having cam portions thereon for opening the first pair of contact strips and for closing the second pair of contact strips, in predetermined sequence, means for adjusting both pairs of contact strips relative to the cam so as to vary the time period in the sequence of separating the 40, pairs of contact strips.

4. Electric control mechanism including cam means, means for supporting and rotating said cam means, a pair of switches connected in series and positioned adjacent the periphery of 4.5 the cam means but spaced ang'ularly from each other, said cam means being shaped to open one switch and close the other and means adjustably mounting the switches whereby the angular relation of the switches and cam means can be varied to change the relative time both switches will be closed.

5. Electric control mechanism including cam means, means for supporting and rotating said cam means, a pair of switches connected in series and positioned adjacent the periphery of the cam means but spaced angularly from each other, said cam means being shaped to open one switch and close the other and means whereby the angular relation of the switches and cam means can be varied to change the relative time both switches will be closed.

6. Electric control mechanism including cam means, means for supporting and rotating said cam means, a pair of switches connected in series and positioned adjacent the periphery of the cam means but spaced angularly from each other, said cam means being shaped to open one switch and close the other, a third switch connected in series with the pair of switches, mechanism operated by the means rotating the cam means for periodically closing the third switch in synchronism with the closing of the pair of switches and means for changing the periodicity of the closing of the third switch. 'l

7. Electric control mechanism comprising, a lotion oi switch. means for periodically closing the switch. and mgm for vsryingthe periodicity of the closthe disks willvchlmze the periodicity of the switch 010811188 and means whereby the onguiar relationship 0! the disks can .be changed in; said two isst named means including during the operation oi the mechanism. n pair of cm disks plsccdside by side and each provided with on individual series of switch ac- MAX .L. JEFFREY. tinting means on their peripheries so designed THEODOREH. EICKHOP'I'. nnd positioned that chsnaesin the angular re- FBEDERICK D. SANBORN,- Jn. 

